Auxiliary surgical field visualization system

Abstract

An auxiliary surgical field visualization system is described, which includes an auxiliary surgical field camera, configured for acquiring an image of a field of view of a secondary surgical field, wherein the secondary surgical field includes the exterior of a patient's eye undergoing vitreoretinal surgery. The auxiliary surgical field visualization system also includes a display in electronic communication with the auxiliary surgical field camera, wherein the display is configured for receiving, from the auxiliary surgical field camera, a signal that includes the image of the field of view of the secondary surgical field, and upon receiving the signal, displaying the image of the field of view of the secondary surgical field.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An auxiliary surgical field visualization system comprising:
 a primary surgical field camera configured for acquiring an image of a field of view of a primary surgical field comprising an internal view of a patient's eye undergoing vitreoretinal surgery, generating a first signal comprising the image of the field of view of the primary surgical field, and displaying the image of the field of view of the primary surgical field; 
 an auxiliary surgical field camera comprising a low light camera and an electronic photosensor configured for acquiring an image of a field of view of a secondary surgical field and generating an additional signal comprising the field of view of the secondary surgical field, wherein the secondary surgical field comprises the exterior of a patient's eye undergoing vitreoretinal surgery and one or more surgical components in the secondary surgical field selected from a trocar cannula, an infusion line, a needle holder, an indentor, a muscle hook, an instrument tip prior to insertion trough a trocar cannula, a flexible iris retractor, a direct or indirect contact lens, and a needle and suture; and 
 a display in electronic communication with the primary surgical field camera and the auxiliary surgical field camera, wherein the display is configured to:
 receive the first signal and displaying the image of the field of view of the primary surgical field; and 
 receive the additional signal and display the image of the field of view of the secondary surgical field, and 
 wherein the image of the field of view of the secondary surgical field is simultaneously displayed as an overlay on top of the image of the field of view of the primary surgical field and is viewable in low light conditions. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The auxiliary surgical field visualization system of  claim 1 , wherein the eye is illuminated using endoillumination. 
     
     
       3. The auxiliary surgical field visualization system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary surgical field has a light intensity of less than 2000 lux. 
     
     
       4. The auxiliary surgical field visualization system of  claim 1 , wherein the area of the field of view of the secondary surgical field is between about 1 cm2 and 36 cm2. 
     
     
       5. The auxiliary surgical field visualization system of  claim 1 , wherein the image is a real-time image. 
     
     
       6. The auxiliary surgical field visualization system of  claim 1 , wherein the display is a standard definition (SD) display, a high definition (HD) display, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, a projection screen display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, a plasma display, a light emitting diodes (LED) display, or a 3-dimensional (3D) display. 
     
     
       7. The auxiliary surgical field visualization system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium accessible by the processor, wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium contains instructions executable by the processor for: 
 receiving, from the auxiliary surgical field camera, the additional signal comprising the image of the field of view of the secondary surgical field, and upon receiving the additional signal, sending the additional signal to the display. 
 
     
     
       8. The auxiliary surgical field visualization system of  claim 7 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises instructions executable by the processor for:
 receiving, from the primary surgical field camera configured for acquiring the image of a field of view of the primary surgical field comprising the internal view of a patient's eye undergoing vitreoretinal surgery, the first signal comprising the image of the field of view of the primary surgical field, and upon receiving the first signal, sending the first signal to the display. 
 
     
     
       9. The auxiliary surgical field visualization system of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary surgical field visualization system allows visualization on a display of one or more secondary surgical manipulations, wherein the secondary surgical manipulations are directed to a site on or adjacent to the exterior surface of the eye. 
     
     
       10. The auxiliary surgical field visualization system of  claim 9 , wherein the secondary surgical manipulations comprise one or more manipulations selected from inserting an instrument into the eye through a trocar cannula, suturing an exterior surface of the eye, placing a trocar cannula, removing a trocar cannula, inspecting a function of a surgical component, retrieving a foreign body, placing indentors or muscle hooks, using cryo-probes, placing scleral buckles and encircling bands, and placing a direct or an indirect contact lens. 
     
     
       11. The auxiliary surgical field visualization system of  claim 1 , wherein the display is viewable by a plurality of individuals.